Parkinsons On The Move
Cost: Free
Thirty-one archived workouts for those with Parkinsons. Videos are sortable by level of difficulty, area of the body to focus on, and preferred position . Other pages on this website offer free recipes and articles about nutrition and PD.
Also available is the Parkinsons On The Move Exercise Library. This collection of 58 short videos each focus on stretching or strengthening a specific part of the body.
Cost: Free
Suzanne Chen leads 43-minutes of stretch and strengthening exercises for those with Parkinsons. Equipment to follow along include an elastic band, light weights , a 8-9 inch soft ball , and a stable chair with no arms.
Cost: Free
Eight YouTube exercise videos for those with Parkinsons, including four focused on neuromuscular integration, two total body conditioning and one seated strength. Most videos are about 30 to 45 minutes.
Cost: Free
Similar to Rock Steady Boxing in the US, this Australian app is available from Google play or the App Store is designed for early stage Parkinsons disease. It includes 10 PD Warrior core exercises for free with upgrades and additional bundles available via in app purchases to customize your workout. Each exercise is demonstrated by a physiotherapist.
Cost: Free
Recordings of nearly 30 exercise classes that include a warm up, low/medium/high intensity exercises, boxing, dance, and cool down. There are also recordings of choir for PD classes and communications classes.
Cost: Free
Cost: $25.95
Dance For Pd Instructional Dvds/streaming
Cost: vol. 1 DVD $29.99, vol. 2 DVD $59.98, vol. 3 $29.99 DVD, vol. 4 $24.99 stream or download , vol. 1, 2 or 3 streaming $23.99 each, full media bundle $120 .
Each volume is a complete class with movements that draw from ballet, modern dance, tap, jazz and improvisation to create accessible, stimulating dances for all.
Volumes 1 and 3 feature seated and standing dances, and a teacher is always on screen to demonstrate both seated and standing versions. Volume 2 is designed to be done seated. Volume 4 is the first all standing class, but can be equally enjoyed from a chair.
Cost: $20/month
Access a growing playlist of dance classes designed to bring joy to anyone living with a movement concern. Sample class video
Visit Empowered By Movement for live streaming dance exercise classes.
Cost: Free
In early 2019, trained and licensed Dance for PD affiliate, Pamela Lappen, posted a series of twelve 30-minute videos on YouTube using the Dance for PD exercise model. Between March and September 2020, she posted five more exercise videos .
Cost: $39.95 for book/DVD set
This exercise program includes categories such as wake up call, walking and balance, cardiovascular, strength, facial and vocal, and night-time stretching. Suitable for any disease stage, with many levels of difficulty. Designed by certified trainer and orthopedic surgeon with PD.
Cost: $39.95 for book/DVD set
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
Cost: $50/month
Balance Exercisescan Improve Your Mobility
Balance is an important aspect of mobility, and people with Parkinsons commonly experience balance problems when standing or moving around, the APDA notes. Dance and tai chi are two activities that can help you improve balance, and the APDA recommends performing balance-related activities two to three days a week for 20 to 30 minutes each time.
Balance training can help you prevent falls, Subramanian notes.
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Can The Brain Change
We know that in PD, neurons that produce the chemical transmitter dopamine are damaged and lost. There is a period of time between when the loss of neurons begins and when PD movement symptoms start to show. By the time most people are diagnosed, nearly 80 percent of their dopamine neurons are already gone.
During this period, the brain changes, compensating for the loss of dopamine neurons which occurs during the process of neurodegeneration. Scientists call this ability to change and compensate exercise-dependent neuroplasticity . This same process occurs throughout life in response to experience. As children learn motor skills, for example, their brain cells make new connections. This process continues through adulthood.
Exercise may affect the brain by driving this compensation, or plasticity. People with PD who exercise regularly can move more normally than those who do not. We believe that exercise may be contributing to neuroplasticity helping the brain maintain old connections, form new ones and restore lost ones. This may outweigh the effects of neurodegeneration.
Moving For Better Balance
Cost: Free
These two instructional videos — part I is 10 minutes and part II is 5 minutes — are taught by a Jamestown New York YMCA staff member using the “Moving for Better Balance” approach, an evidence-based fall prevention program.
Cost: Free
This 30-minute video is a personal account by Michael Weiss, a person with Parkinson’s. In it he shares stretches, breathing, and physical exercises he has compiled for himself. Exercise demonstration begins 8-minutes into the video and include toe lifts, leg swing, leg lift, knee circles, hip circles, squats, arm stretches, arm twists, shoulder stretches, chair push-ups, bicycle legs, toe touches, chopping wood, conducting, dancing, and facial exercises.
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So What Type Of Exercise Is Best
There are many different forms of exercise, but what type is right for you? Every individual is different! Its important to remember that although a combination of aerobic, resistance and balance exercises have the best overall effect, you may need to modify each element to your suit your unique circumstance.
Aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise is described as continual movement to assist in the improvement of cardiorespiratory function. This includes walking, cycling, swimming and even dancing! Exercising to music specifically has seen some fantastic results in managing Parkinsons symptoms. Dance for Parkinsons Australia run specialised dance classes across Australia, providing a social environment so share stimulating activity.
Resistance exercise
Maintaining strength is not only important to keep our muscles healthy, it also helps with daily activities like getting off the toilet and getting out of the car. Resistance exercises can be performed using your body weight, light hand weights, resistance bands, various machines found in a gym setting or even using common household items like cans of food. Moving your muscle under a greater resistance promotes an increase in muscle mass. You may like to participate in group setting, a home program, or a combination of both.
Flexibility exercise
Exercise And Parkinson’s Disease
Why should people with Parkinsons disease exercise? Data from the Parkinsons Foundation Parkinsons Outcomes Project, the largest-ever clinical study of Parkinsons, suggests that people with PD that complete at least 2.5 hours of exercise every week have a better quality of life.
“Aerobic exercise stabilizes progression of motor symptoms and improves cognitive function in people with Parkinsons disease, according to additional data from the Park-in-Shape clinical trial.” From Aerobic Exercise Stabilizes Motor Progression, Helps Cognition, Parkinson’s News Today, January 4, 2022.
Exercise resources
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How Can It Help In Parkinson’s
Nordic walking can improve fitness in the same way that running does, but it is much kinder to the ankles, knees and hips as it has a much lower impact on the joints. This can be particularly attractive if you experience joint pain.
Perhaps the most important advantage of Nordic walking if you have Parkinsons is that is allows you to maintain and develop your ability to walk well by:
- enhancing balance and coordination
- reducing slowness of movement
- reducing freezingand gait problems
- improving mobility and creating more fluid movements
- correcting posture, particularly the stooped position associated with Parkinsons
- reinforcing the alternating movements of the arms and legs which can be lost in Parkinsons and so improving stability
- boosting independence and quality of life.
Various studies 1,2 have shown that people with Parkinsons who participate in Nordic walking programmes have improved functional independence and quality of life. It seems that mood also improves.
Once the basic steps have been learnt you can tailor your programme to suit how you feel at any particular time. Walking in a group also has social and psychological benefits.
Carers and family members who walk with you may find that they too feel fitter and have fewer aches and pains.
References
Parkinsons Home Exercise Program
You dont need to join a gym or purchase expensive fitness equipment to stay active with Parkinsons disease. On the contrary, there are many great exercises that you can do from the comfort of your home, regardless of which stage of the disease you are in. Take a look at some great examples in the sections below.
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Brian Grant Foundation Exercise Videos
Cost: Free
Cost: Free for 9 videos $29/month or $290/year for unlimited video streaming.
The nine free classes include boxing fundamentals, HIIT , chair fit, tai chi, core, yoga, stretching/mobility. The free classes are 13 to 30 minutes. Classes are led by a physical therapist with Parkinsons specific certifications.
Paid classes incorporate PWR! Moves, cognitive dual task training, balance training, intensity training, and flexibility. For subscribers, new 20-25 minute videos are released weekly.
Cost: Free
Dance exercise class videos on YouTube. Each is fewer than 10 minutes long. Nearly 30 videos as of October 28, 2020.
Rachelle was featured at the Davis Phinney Foundation Victory Summit Albany in October, 2020. Watch an interview with Rachelle here, and Rachelle’s 25 minute Dance Beyond Parkinson’s Summit presentation here.
Cost: Free
Six seated dance exercise class videos on YouTube. Each is about one hour long. All are with the same instructor.
Cost: Free for 16 videos $50 for 100+ videos
Sixteen archived exercise classes are available for free viewing. Classes are designed to increase coordination, balance, flexibility, and strength through music and movement from a broad range of dance styles. 100+ archived classes and additional benefits are available for a $50 membership.
Choosing The Right Exercise Class For Parkinsons
When trying to find an exercise class to join, it can be hard to know which ones to try because there are many different types of classes that are marketed to people with PD. When you are evaluating a class, it is important to remember the following:
- It is the components of the exercise class that are important . You do not need to specifically do boxing or dance if you can achieve these elements of exercise in other ways.
- The instructor should have expertise in PD. APDA offers a training for fitness professionals which helps them better understand how to create exercise programs best suited for people with PD.
- The ratio of class members to instructors should be low enough to maintain safety.
- The class should be adaptable for people of different abilities and mobility. Many classes will offer seated options or other modifications.
It may take a few tries to find the types of exercise that suits you best so dont give up! Feel free to try different classes in your area to see what types of exercise appeal to you. It can also be motivating to take classes together with a friend or family member. You can hold each other accountable, and also have some fun together. As you find classes you enjoy, you can incorporate those modalities into your exercise schedule. For help in finding classes in your area, you can contact one of our Chapters or Information & Referral Centers. There are also many virtual classes that you can join from home.
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How To Start Exercising If Youre Living With Parkinsons
Safety is key. The first thing you need to do is talk with your neurologist and primary care doctor to make sure that the exercise regimen that you embark upon is safe for you.
Next, ask for a referral for physical therapy. A physical therapist will be able to figure out what movement challenges you may have and design a program to help you improve. There are certain physical therapists with additional training in Parkinsons. Your physical therapist will work with you for your allotted sessions, and then can help you plan your ongoing exercise regimen that is tailored to you. You can contact the APDA National Rehabilitation Resource Center for Parkinsons Disease for help finding resources in your area.
Additionally, physical therapy can help counteract the tendency for people with PD to reduce the size of their movements. The Lee Silverman Voice Technique has designed a program called LSVT-BIG which trains participants to make big movements. You can search for an LSVT-trained professional near you.
Anyone starting out on an exercise program could benefit from APDAs Be Active & Beyond exercise guide which includes clear photos with simple instructions that are easy to follow, with exercises that address all levels of fitness.
Where Can I Find Support If I Have Parkinson’s Disease And Want To Exercise
You can find exercise support in your community. For example, many gyms and community centers offer seated exercise classes for people who struggle with balance. Ask your healthcare provider for ideas if you have Parkinsons disease and want to exercise.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Exercise is an important part of managing Parkinsons disease. Talk to your healthcare provider about your exercise program and choose activities you enjoy so you stay motivated to get up and move every day.
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research. Exercise. Accessed 4/13/2021.
- Parkinson Society of Canada. Exercises for People with Parkinsons. Accessed 4/13/2021.
- Parkinsons Foundation. Exercise. Accessed 4/13/2021.
- Journal of Parkinsons Disease. The Universal Prescription for Parkinsons Disease: Exercise. Accessed 4/13/2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Perceived Exertion . Accessed 4/13/2021.
- Neurotherapeutics. Current Perspectives on Aerobic Exercise in People with Parkinsons Disease. Accessed 4/13/2021.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy
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Live Large With Parkinson’s At The Countryside Y
Cost: Free
These two 25-minute exercise classes are designed for people with Parkinson’s. The exercises may be done seated or standing, supported by a chair. These videos were created in March/April 2020.
Purchase Info: www.lsvtglobal.com or email
Cost: $28 for DVD or download $15/year streaming
Videos are designed for people with PD to use as an adjunct to LSVT BIG treatment delivered by an LSVT BIG certified clinician. The videos can also be used during the month of therapy and after therapy as a motivation to practice and keep moving. Volume 1 contains standard exercises while standing. Volume 2 contains exercises adapted to seated and supine positions, plus a chapter for caregivers. Available in English, German and Japanese.
Purchase Info: Ohana Pacific Rehab Services, 808-262-1118, online
Cost: $24.50 for DVD $19.50 for book $40 for DVD and book
This program focuses on exercises, flexibility, and pragmatic solutions for walking, moving, falling, and getting up off the floor. Adaptive equipment is reviewed. Demonstrators have PD. Three levels of exercise shown. Designed by a physical therapist.
What Type Is Best
Understandably, many people ask for “the best” kind of exercise to help treat Parkinson’s disease. Some people swear by dance classes or boxing. Others find tai chi and yoga helps their balance. Through our grassroots fundraising community Team Fox, people with Parkinson’s run marathons or bike for their health and to raise money for research.
The best exercise is the one that your care team approves and that appeals to you, because you’ll stick with it. Your exercise routine will vary depending on your overall fitness level, but a good first step is to talk to your physician and have a thorough checkup before starting any activity. If your doctor agrees, one good way to start is with a physical therapist. This way, you can get an “exercise prescription” and work with an expert to determine what you can do safely.
Podcast: What Forms of Exercise Help Most?
Spoken by Lisa Shulman, MD, of the University of Maryland
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Working With A Physical Therapist To Create An Exercise Plan
Physical therapists are experts in getting people moving. While most people think physical therapy is just for rehabbing after an injury, its an important part of preventive care and treatment for patients with chronic conditions like Parkinsons disease.
Your experience with Parkinsons disease is unique. A physical therapist can help with Parkinsons by designing a personalized program for you. Theyll teach you specific exercises to manage your unique symptoms and keep you engaged in activity.
How often should you meet with a physical therapist? Checking in at least once or twice a year can help you develop an exercise plan that fits with your current level of mobility and the season.
Exercise & Parkinsons Research
Exercise is good for the heart and the muscles, but exercise can actually change the brain. Establishing early exercise habits is an essential part of overall disease management, which is why neurologists now recommend exercise as part of most PD treatment plans.
People with Parkinsons who engaged in at least 2.5 hours of exercise a week had a better quality of life than those who didn’t exercise at all or started exercising later.
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New Types Of Exercise For Parkinsons
Researchers are continually studying different types of exercise for PD and APDA works to keep you informed about these new findings.
- Karate People who participated in a study involving a 10-week karate class program noticed improvements in gait, quality of life and self-reported impression of change. We highlighted this research study at the 2019 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.
- Golf A preliminary study was done to determine if golf is a beneficial mode of exercise for people with PD We highlighted this research at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.
Weekly Screening Of Progression And Falls
Scheduled screening of progression in training will be used to indicate the capacity to continue to progress. The patients, who complete all the settings with good and high quality performance in 10 RM, will be able to progress to the next week. Those patients who will not show a good quality of performance will receive additional guidance on the exercises and will receive special attention from the orientation physiotherapist in terms of how to perform the exercises correctly. Thereby, if these patients complete all the parts with good and high quality of performance in 10 RM, they will be able to progress to the next week .
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